Effect of double filtration plasmapheresis in refractory rheumatoid arthritis / 中国综合临床

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of double filtration plasmapheresis (DFPP) in the treatment of patients with refractory rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods Eighty-two patients were randomly aesigned,42 to the DFPP group and 40 to the no-DFPP group. All patients previously experienced an incomplete response to 2-3 dis-ease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and 1-2 nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or predni-sene. All patients received sulphasalazine (SASP,0.75 g three times daily) plus methotrexate (MTX, 10 mg orally once weekly). DFPP was performed once a week for 2-3 sessions. A total of 121 plasmapheresis procedures were per-formed in 42 patients. Control patients did not receive sham DFPP. The efficacy measures recorded one day after the final treatment and latest month in follow up for 12～24 months included the American College of Rheumatology 20% ,50% ,and 70% improvement criteria (ACR20, ACR50, and ACR70), the Health Assessment Questionnaire estimate of disability (HAQ); and the disease activity index. Results Patients in the DFPP group had ACR 20, ACR 50 and ACR 70 improvements of 100% ,92.9% and 81.0%,as compared with the patients in no-DFPP group 17.5% ,0,and 0 (P<0.001). Significant change from baseline was observed in HAQ scores in the DFPP group but not in the no-DFPP group (P<0.001). The changes from baseline in the disease activity scores were significantlygreater than in the no-DFPP group (P<0.001). Conclusion DFPP therapy significantly alters the signs and symp-toms of refractory RA. There are significant increases in physical function and improvement in quality of life.